News for today's 2018

Your nonverbal communication can wreck your interview

1:45 PM Anonymous 0

Your nonverbal communication can wreck your interview

Selena Dehne, JIST Publishing Giving a limp handshake, letting your eyes wander and fidgeting are just a few of the subtle blunders that can...

Book to Movie: In a Lonely Place

7:30 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrDJrymFIQxctjdVRb8Run2v1LNZZN3LOTB3Yop1qvR8xAioLu1PNCNkmZvKbmSUDwv5NNLZUw13CNuwsSsqL1VRH5Z9jXN_3VqqD4_4OgEyK7sPJM-XLyqhPNRbbVUzZQh0OJrljggRSp/s1600/in+a+lonely+place+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrDJrymFIQxctjdVRb8Run2v1LNZZN3LOTB3Yop1qvR8xAioLu1PNCNkmZvKbmSUDwv5NNLZUw13CNuwsSsqL1VRH5Z9jXN_3VqqD4_4OgEyK7sPJM-XLyqhPNRbbVUzZQh0OJrljggRSp/s1600/in+a+lonely+place+3.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">A few weeks ago I took another look at Nicholas Ray’s haunting film noir, <i>In a Lonely Place</i> (1950). As I watched, it slowly began to rankle that the central character, Dix Steele (Humphrey Bogart), a Hollywood screenwriter with an explosive temper, is consistently touted as a great guy by most who know him. Even the ex-girlfriend whose nose he once broke remains a friend (she never pressed charges), and it's well known that he's had scrapes with the law more than once for his loutish dust-ups. His friends remain staunch even after he is named prime suspect in the killing of a young hat-check girl who was last seen with him.</span><br /><a name='more'></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Dix's harsh treatment of his new girlfriend, Laurel Gray (Gloria Grahame), is mostly excused because, as a murder suspect, he's under great stress. For example, there's the night...</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic2XsAXY_-CmiwDxhRYtmIOOL1rvtjfN9aR6A2-CW8DgvTL68qu1vF8hsI-rei4E6FEyJIzCrfascTAB2twqjnWwyxeOVKD-wEB2vIQPvVCfig51gdmkgicACeu2UvFHkUIzU9No3BTjcV/s1600/in+a+lonely+place+beach+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic2XsAXY_-CmiwDxhRYtmIOOL1rvtjfN9aR6A2-CW8DgvTL68qu1vF8hsI-rei4E6FEyJIzCrfascTAB2twqjnWwyxeOVKD-wEB2vIQPvVCfig51gdmkgicACeu2UvFHkUIzU9No3BTjcV/s400/in+a+lonely+place+beach+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lovejoy, Donnell, Bogart, Grahame - this party is about to break up... </td></tr></tbody></table><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Steele becomes pointlessly enraged with Laurel at a cookout and gets behind the wheel of his car, taking her on a hair-raising ride. His recklessness causes an accident and when the other driver confronts him, Dix’s temper blows and he begins viciously beating the man. Even after Laurel intercedes (saving the other man’s life?), Dix seems to feel justified in his violent attack because the other driver called him names.</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Dix refers to his own “artistic” temperament and, according to one supporting character, “…he’s a writer, people like that have a right to be temperamental.” A long-time associate comments, “…he has a right to explode sometimes, it’s as much a part of him as his eyes…” His former Army buddy (Frank Lovejoy) observes, “he’s an exciting guy” with “a superior mind.”  This is a man who challenges a stranger to a fist fight within the first five minutes of the film and punches out another man minutes later. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Because I had questions about a plot point that seemed incongruous, I became curious about the changes that may have occurred as the story made its way from page to screen and decided to read the novel on which <i>In a Lonely Place</i> was based.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I was in for a few surprises.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBRAF1BdPWvBwuSXu4VJ-qGUaPZYCn2xWN_RboW0359ZcdUVEK75ja0Di2CxMc9C22-Y7MS1FwMUe_hECHDOtStDS0EUWLBiI3jgBHw44ZPTiRX6tKgPokJFpng4wBpZnlhrzJ9PevF6Gn/s1600/in+a+lonely+place+book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBRAF1BdPWvBwuSXu4VJ-qGUaPZYCn2xWN_RboW0359ZcdUVEK75ja0Di2CxMc9C22-Y7MS1FwMUe_hECHDOtStDS0EUWLBiI3jgBHw44ZPTiRX6tKgPokJFpng4wBpZnlhrzJ9PevF6Gn/s320/in+a+lonely+place+book.jpg" width="222" /></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>In a Lonely Place </i></span><span style="font-size: small;">was first published in 1947, penned by prominent mystery/crime writer Dorothy B. Hughes. It was her eleventh novel and two of her previous books had already been made into films – <i>The Fallen Sparrow</i> and <i>Ride the Pink Horse</i>. Interestingly, the author’s first published work was a book of poetry; she was also a literary critic.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">While many of the book's elements were retained, both  its plot and themes are significantly different from the film. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The book:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Dix Steele, not long back from WWII, is staying in Los Angeles in the swank but borrowed garden court apartment of an old Princeton chum. He contacts war buddy, Brub Nicolai, of the locally prominent Nicolai family, now married and a detective with the LAPD. Both men had dropped out of elite colleges to enlist in the war and flew together in Europe where they became close pals.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Dix has no profession, he’s been drifting since the war, but says he’s writing a mystery novel. He originally devised this story so the very wealthy uncle who raised him would subsidize him for a year or so while he wrote. Dix, unlike his uncle, has no interest in hard work but developed a taste for the good life at Princeton and as a high-living ace flyer during the war.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Brub, along with most of the LAPD, is focused on a sensational case involving the rape/strangulations of young women in West L.A. Brub is afraid for his own lovely blonde wife, Sylvia; the couple lives in Santa Monica near the beach.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Dix, who is handsome, charming and polished, is attractive to women and knows it. When he catches sight of one of his garden court neighbors, a knockout named Laurel Gray, he is dazzled and pursues her on the spot. Young but savvy, Laurel is a fledgling actress just out of a miserable marriage to a wealthy man. She and Dix soon become involved.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDkToeFERw28kwZbluR_AgKbv1Z4THi3Dc-4gB9xyjCGmgJhyphenhyphenPT-Civ-mgbSNT_mH8O-NIMxe2D_3C_fsFVudNbEshVCqXxbyrbxGHLSnlX5RgF0ct0VTqcEi7wcUnVwEOUr2VaCXCjoZ4/s1600/In+a+Lonely+Place+set.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDkToeFERw28kwZbluR_AgKbv1Z4THi3Dc-4gB9xyjCGmgJhyphenhyphenPT-Civ-mgbSNT_mH8O-NIMxe2D_3C_fsFVudNbEshVCqXxbyrbxGHLSnlX5RgF0ct0VTqcEi7wcUnVwEOUr2VaCXCjoZ4/s320/In+a+Lonely+Place+set.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grahame (then Mrs. Ray), Bogart and Ray on the set</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The movie:</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Dix Steele, a screenwriter who “hasn’t had a hit in ten years,” is known for his intransigence about the writing assignments he will accept - as well as his violent temper. He comes under police scrutiny when a young hat-check girl is murdered after a visit to his apartment. Dix’s old Army buddy, strictly middle-class Brub Nicolai (Frank Lovejoy), an LAPD detective, takes Dix in to the station for questioning the morning after the girl’s murder. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Laurel Gray (Gloria Grahame), Dix’s new neighbor, steps in as a witness on his behalf, but Dix remains the #1 suspect. Laurel and Dix become romantically involved. Meanwhile, Dix’s peculiar behavior one evening at the Nicolai home disturbs Brub’s wife Sylvia (Jeff Donnell). Brub scoffs.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Dix has other friends, all Hollywood types, who attest that he’s a stand-up guy, albeit one with an erratic temper. Dix explodes several times in the course of the film and even those close to him (Brub, Sylvia, Laurel) become suspicious of his connection to the murder.  But Dix is innocent; the slain young woman’s boyfriend eventually confesses.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The novel takes a less circuitous route in identifying the murderer, in this case a serial killer:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Written as a third person narrative, the book presents the story entirely from the viewpoint of Dix Steele. And from its early pages, there is no doubt that Dix is a killer. By the end of the book, it develops that he has not only raped and strangled women in Los Angeles but also on the East Coast and in Europe...and that he has also killed a wealthy college pal and appropriated his home, his belongings and his charge accounts.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">These facts emerge slowly as the story unfolds and Dix, a stealthy character (though not nearly as clever as he thinks) but lacking an overtly nasty temperament, does not become a suspect until toward the end of the book. It is Brub’s wife, Sylvia, quiet and perceptive, who notices that something is awry in the man. Later, Laurel, who observes Dix’s inconsistencies and mood swings, comes to believe that Dix is the killer and confides her suspicions to Brub and Sylvia. Dix finally begins to unravel, certain from one moment to the next that either the police are closing in on him or that he’s outsmarted everyone again.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">As with the movie, the book does not depict murder, though Dix’s stalking of his victims is detailed. <i>In a Lonely Place</i> is a well-written and well-plotted page-turner. Hughes’ description of Dix through his internal dialogue is thoroughly absorbing. The writer provides no explanation for Dix’s deeper motives though, through his agitated thoughts, it comes out that he profoundly resented being raised by a wealthy but stingy uncle who insisted his nephew adopt his own intense work ethic. We know from his behavior that Dix has no desire to work but has a sense of entitlement. We discover that, at Princeton, Dix attached himself, as a toady, to a rich crowd so that he could pass as one of them. From Dix’s reactions to certain intrusive sounds it seems that though he enjoyed the excitement of flying in combat, something of the experience rattled him.  And finally, it develops that he continues to be a fixated on “Brucie,” the woman he loved during the war. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">It’s fair to say that the story of a rapist/murderer told from the killer's point of view might not have appealed to filmmakers (not to mention censors) in 1950. And, though he was not an actor afraid of playing flawed characters, it’s doubtful Bogart, whose own company produced, was inclined to portray a serial killer/rapist at age 51. So, it's understandable that changes were made. But what of Dix’s onscreen character</span><span style="font-size: small;">? Though he does offer jaded charm and dry wit, he is just barely sympathetic. Perhaps emphasis on the devotion of his friends was meant to cue audience acceptance. And perhaps the mores of mid-century America allowed the brutish acts of a man otherwise labeled 'good' to be tolerated.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKSJ29nUiE4ubgZQwIMgkuoVFlMkfvzAtV8gioEutyKsqcIqpYMTOefX7MoFwQpRJX412XgOv0ElLfFLECD88_Ciway9Khrnk9sdqmOkgzEDfQkTq175Y6HwkyYzIQhQahjpKfz68WekwR/s1600/in+a+lonely+place+madman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKSJ29nUiE4ubgZQwIMgkuoVFlMkfvzAtV8gioEutyKsqcIqpYMTOefX7MoFwQpRJX412XgOv0ElLfFLECD88_Ciway9Khrnk9sdqmOkgzEDfQkTq175Y6HwkyYzIQhQahjpKfz68WekwR/s320/in+a+lonely+place+madman.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was born when she kissed me, I died when she left me...</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">By the last act of Nick Ray’s film, Laurel has become convinced of Dix’s guilt and is terrified of him. As the murder investigation wears on, Dix has grown more unpredictable and paranoid; when he discovers that Laurel has plans to slip away, he snaps. He very nearly does kill her - she is virtually saved by the bell, a ringing telephone that brings news of Dix's exoneration. The relationship has, of course, just been demolished. It's worth noting that Laurel's lament that had the call come a day earlier it would've "meant the world" to the two of them, implies that their romance would've survived had Dix kept his abusive antics just short of attempted murder...</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The back story on <i>In a Lonely Place</i> is that the film was originally going to end with Dix, not yet a killer, actually murdering Laurel in that scene. However, Ray, who was involved with the script (along with Andrew Solt), wasn't satisfied with this ending and changed it.</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Today Nicholas Ray's rendering of <i>In a Lonely Place</i> stands as classic noir, noteworthy for its intimations on Hollywood during the blacklist era. The performances of Bogart and Grahame are regarded as among their finest. Meanwhile, the reputation of Dorothy B. Hughes was revived early in the 21st century with the reissue of some of her best work. She has been compared to the icons of mystery/crime fiction and one contemporary writer of the genre has claimed that Hughes "puts Chandler to shame."     </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">  </span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/gWi9bvGX49g" width="420"></iframe></div>

A few weeks ago I took another look at Nicholas Ray’s haunting film noir, In a Lonely Place (1950). As I watched, it slowly began to rankle...

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

12:44 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div style="text-align: center;"><b>Have you ever thought why no mainstream media reports on the "Occupy Wall Street" protests, which is in its 6th day ?????</b><br /><br /><div style="color: red;"><b>Updated 27 September 2011  </b></div><b><span style="color: red;">with a link to</span></b><br /><a href="http://rt.com/news/wall-street-protest-arrests-331/">http://rt.com/news/wall-street-protest-arrests-331/</a></div><div style="color: red; text-align: center;"><b>which confirms my question</b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="266" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KrFQs5X-I1Y?feature=player_embedded" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="320"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="266" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AjJ9nEi6Qdw?feature=player_embedded" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="320"></iframe></div>

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Have you ever thought why no mainstream media reports on the "Occupy Wall Street" protests, which is in its 6th day ????? Updated ...

Weigh In and Weekend Plans

11:10 AM Tukiyooo 0

I guess all that struggling didn't matter after all, because I dropped 1.8 lbs this week, bringing me back closer to my first 10 lbs loss!  I'll take it.<br /><br />Obviously you saw that this past week was definitely an "off" week for me.  I couldn't get the healthy living thing together.  Yesterday (Friday) I got myself started off on the right foot, however.  Since I missed my usual Wednesday WW meeting, I attended yesterday morning instead.  As it turns out, the lady leading Friday's meeting was the old leader I used to go to 2 years ago.  It's funny how people change in just 2 short years - she looked a lot different (in her clothing & hair style).  But, I was so pleased to discover that she had the Pumpkin Fluff recipe posted on the board at the front of the meeting room.  It was my lucky day!<br /><br />Why?  Well, I'm going to a party tonight to honor a friend of mine who will be getting married in just a few weeks.  My job was to make a dessert and so I thought I'd make the pumpkin fluff, but I knew I'd have to do some searching for the recipe because I couldn't remember where I put it.  I couldn't remember exactly what the pumpkin fluff was used for either.  All I could remember was the name, and that I wanted to do something fall-inspired.  And low and behold, there was the recipe at the front of the room :).  I will share this recipe with you this week - it is incredibly pumpkiny and so decadent.  I'll be using it as a fruit dip (it's so versatile, you can really use it any way you like) with cut up apples and pears and vanilla wafers.  I'll be sure to take pictures :).<br /><br />Since I love cooking, and felt like the fruit tray wouldn't be enough of a dessert, I also made an apple crisp, which I will also share the recipe for.  This crisp is meant to serve 12, but I'm going to try to cut it up a little smaller to make more serving sizes as well as a smaller Points+ value per serving.  I cannot wait to try this tonight with some fat free vanilla ice cream on top!<br /><br />Until the party begins, I'm going to continue cheering on my Nittany Lions who are playing Eastern Michigan today in Happy Valley.  WE ARE!

Loss Success Weight Loss Weigh In and Weekend Plans

I guess all that struggling didn't matter after all, because I dropped 1.8 lbs this week, bringing me back closer to my first 10 lbs los...

Poetry sites that will get words flowing!

7:25 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><em>Submitted by Fiona Beal</em><br />One of the things I love doing with a class is writing poetry. The students come up with the most interesting ideas and words. Playing with words always gives me a thrill. There are so many free interactive sites available that can make the teacher’s task even easier, and the learners experience more memorable.    <br /><br /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>1. ETTC (Educational Technology Training Centre) – Instant Poetry Forms</strong></span> <br /><a href="http://ettcweb.lr.k12.nj.us/forms/newpoem.htm" title="http://ettcweb.lr.k12.nj.us/forms/newpoem.htm">http://ettcweb.lr.k12.nj.us/forms/newpoem.htm</a>  <br /><br />This is a really great poetry site but it can be used for so many other subjects as well. If you scroll down on the left you can preview some of the templates with samples. Students fill in the blanks with their own content and click “Create”.  <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_4ZrflI0H6CR25WcqP6VYMRYrFkkrboKDQvfWeSJ39_netZYDKs0DLO_pbWpAl6DKAdq3div__zuBCCVaaWrYDWw8NN3wiBQJCGXR_OXKd_iOwQ-ey8B_jUwmmnjnUd5byoBMRQ5vdfw/s1600-h/ITC3.jpg"><img alt="ITC" border="0" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs5xZgzXsX6C-z34EOvAa-6BPr4hnH9UToPXrbu7pRVYdjJ52xBXHwxeDUGqu3Jpp8EhgzZC910qiiXPhZPkGsA_NpNi5dLc0ANckpGampS6ahlaYzIovt7wWCY1iSqKoAAluPW3CKzzM/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="ITC" width="242" /></a>  <br /><br />For example, here is one of their poem outlines:  <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfpnZzrfsO-rOvxohuAo0Hp8jaX42MgMaFJ68i0x7Cprj-SakPa2eiBEViwwBELJ_lA1is5JgdXlkMeFscXJYkjbwjtY4h4CYtyto8KpCmwvwwsbEhjGtWDiGwx3UWNKd7cWHQgwuQ3ZE/s1600-h/ETTC-sample4.jpg"><img alt="ETTC sample" border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7VX2WspgIg_LRD7FOCuLFtgTbj-0D3FwQuebvWWCTvAuxwWgmWBLwLKSuQQtawoJy8wmYY-M-fP5acP-6mN7P2j6Kl0-xefy6qW-5x7sD1WyWHGfmbf86SHKjxLK0HLpgkP-dQujVAGM/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="ETTC sample" width="241" /></a>  <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>2. Giggle Poetry<br /></strong></span><a href="http://www.gigglepoetry.com/index.aspx" title="http://www.gigglepoetry.com/index.aspx">http://www.gigglepoetry.com/index.aspx</a>  <br />Giggle poetry is an award-winning poetry website with many different features, one of which allows students to fill in the missing words at the end of lines of poetry.This site is great for the younger students.  <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf8-lJj_JE0B2GqthwaSUbzfgfIsxpZLR6e_NWGJC0BO1G1pp65cFV_vZKO3wO0dWasIg_Dukp_fu6TJnzyu7Z1weSWRiErevDRllTflCed4CYPeVPvY7bLeBz7P3w20PKmDoUxLVTaac/s1600-h/GIGGLE-POETRY2.jpg"><img alt="GIGGLE POETRY" border="0" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4YsTzkPaHn4aEwHBsBZLaiaHVNUVzQ3oieP-S9wjJKQ21ov6uus6GBiSv9Z0NJ4YS5snpneYmeMs8O8jW44PfrSLma8aMIE2uo6gHbs854RgmrCRFx6qT71wel6NA4Q6byYxhqirn7Ic/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="GIGGLE POETRY" width="244" /></a>  <br /><br /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong><br />3. Piclits<br /></strong></span><a href="http://www.piclits.com/compose_dragdrop.aspx" title="http://www.piclits.com/compose_dragdrop.aspx">http://www.piclits.com/compose_dragdrop.aspx</a><br />  <br />I have referred to this site before in my post on 10 creative writing sites, but I love using it for poetry writing as well. It is also a great way to teach the different parts of speech and how they fit into the poem. The students start off by choosing a picture as a background that will suit the mood of the poem.  <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKpZGwdAZxD6dvlpNUGnwrlQQzNnMcPIQzAJzlCyIHLqAYupNa7YRT1LpOyvYHt_TPpcX5GoR3nVorAMWqjFIwgmUhWYOR08sPy0HjM72w01wQkzGBoHyX7ssl17ZUDU5DGSlOJjBDb8A/s1600-h/piclits-22.jpg"><img alt="piclits (2)" border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPx4qvQRZu2pURY02Abis2tFS4yq8FKyZQ4nuxevMgjwyBovtlTaZ_e6_vyO_thHrTz1IFHaKEYEdtfhEGVFAHp_QPbnW-4y6IVDjF-B5drGOImpq2kyYiYlyey3JpP_1IfYd3zyfhlVw/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="piclits (2)" width="232" /></a><br />  <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipQaUvfy3BBY7suEhx4c_mPFWXoUcT7UikLU2rJIbWiCo4egLFj44lsEehftPNoAtIHqiaYPmhkzUBx3TswZvpWicmInl241IHyuiRoOXhpzOrdJydk0BhvA3Bn_FfV-UDROd9X65VcH8/s1600-h/Picture22.png"><img alt="Picture2" border="0" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ9Wgdy3wjDwf9FZGFMbV5xi2DFySa6rPD6XCyx6FmaAeWO4ibI8Ck19h7APfo16WN_1qHxc_HLE9-9j85YS35AgyzZKDjUkr6B0SuNHzb7EKDxbZLTvbB-PRSyNEhtUn1Knn26pDNRtc/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Picture2" width="244" /></a>  <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>4. Shape poems<br /></strong></span><a href="http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/student-interactives/shape-poems-30044.html">http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/student-interactives/shape-poems-30044.html</a>  <br /><br />In this online tool, primary school students can select shapes from four different themes namely nature, school, sports, and celebrations. Within these themes, 19 different shapes are included. What I like about Read Write Web’s poetry sites is they include a lot of lesson ideas.  <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVEQyOmuRjsdxHBzBD14qxnVOH3Eqy1I-IRAHCcqBt8PJYx4TO80X-TAtYfzERG7uqBlE6YlDAox6ipifHdWrDmKaWeot_4pCsRpZZXD9ZRPbdeqiuOclnnrVrOR1iuipeOD5gMOoZQgk/s1600-h/shape-poems4.jpg"><img alt="shape poems" border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinmzjwDmBc0SboiIovt2ZrSWLEKcknV1DeNK0mHtf2ID99HC5DiwQfSY_Gw0dc515FV2Ag7ixUAICn0Xyn-p0qoa1Haq7t6GncFCganpyzLiphZwxpuDux9suaKhlfkMme9Y_rhgBr3x8/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="shape poems" width="290" /></a><br />  <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgouK4gaJwp8Dn7FZnAwwQnMXiSz-r0m0Hm-PlmGdZdWVFLIT3-PZOPm5Hu-0afiWSlCs69rrMn65VBzM2K2IrEWzhzOVTH3EXJunAqMuTeqXdKUNt9qF2_abkOmB_GUYJ8fcpxINDos6s/s1600-h/soccer2.jpg"><img alt="soccer" border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVrIoKS9h_TmNn5-3By1Rn28R_ERcGGbvcsEEAIaIAK6hnF-NonSZJXmSNsZZroXLdvtLfSmlIzzEwfKSZJFj15KZx11xwKaBsezzqkM1BXyvjnEBHyeG3QVJZuUwJpiHbIzTkLAfGtb4/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="soccer" width="224" /></a>  <br />  <br /><br /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>5. Acrostic poems </strong></span><a href="http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/student-interactives/acrostic-poems-30045.html">http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/student-interactives/acrostic-poems-30045.html</a>  <br /><br />An acrostic poem uses the letters in a word to begin each line of the poem. All lines of the poem relate to or describe the main topic word.  In this interactive Read Write Web site you can choose your words.  <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTScW7sqQ5SksH-JRNw5Am9KjItOaHN1Y-pxdEqXAYLLC_eumH8fjNBwpVIQ2tGfz5XHYwRD3igHcsFF9pnqGgCsH1vR2btf9krJEjcqPVubk3d_cNUTYWgaw5nqMEWYJzVF20qdOlXIg/s1600-h/acrostic21.jpg"><img alt="acrostic" border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOvT-o05moa8yT1wEaeeZARvnJIkSDyJDP8Kf-1e0NfWMh8_D-r7QxLxYWLwBoWhpR4qr4UpvpaYljjhOWz1DEumiYp0qIBrHJHdWsEgEAvfyeRQrSJyN7YPeRaP7JWjoNPHST586lRCw/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="acrostic" width="244" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTLkHW0qTiTQtT8PP7-XfGte9plsJQhriJ2apA2mciQLQaSECS8k0yeltcZyHNBEhedJdMF8Ugp8NNMKKOn6KmwXDZoK83wVp19kVl-nnYRUd061sHsIhRQ3XOZ5xwzo-MYAHv46mlEJI/s1600-h/acrostic22.jpg"><img alt="acrostic2" border="0" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2uxLCSIAkos6FhxQvf695BCaWQmBlcWR_MXka_UwGkLXU2AAhbmhme9AHCLxxn8K7CXrjyys71SAvUU3oGOGiK7nwqFlfT54RJnF-06Qo03_dTLESEWyleJFwQUVpNG1FFC08Zz3s4dc/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="acrostic2" width="244" /></a>  <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>6. Write a song-poem from PBS<br /></strong></span><a href="http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/offthecharts/webkaraoke.html" title="http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/offthecharts/webkaraoke.html">http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/offthecharts/webkaraoke.html</a>  <br /><br />This will appeal to the older students. They can write a poem by typing in the words, and then the interactive part of the programme will choose music for it.  <br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI0hQMXcqePjsNjWDFcOwL9QluJgL0pMmoF92dta1r0Xbaj4VPyB049QNRRCm7uDQF0fEqhvXOzeggF82YFqe1qr-XYCMsJ_r75w2e9bGSy4OLFH7-RjyZ9nmk3EdKXKiCnRdqAq9HEuk/s1600-h/web-karaoke2.jpg"><img alt="web karaoke" border="0" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDfcb3ulVS618w59QjlZKVD5QOdD7LT7r9Qy-hW393spjejZRe7fvCBQpCE1Y0ZLjClxgzAeNjvKtJWuwqP7oAKaqMA-y6PZe9IFi0DugCs2emYY7whgKlD6e0_vyr50VYHE8puM-CNtk/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="web karaoke" width="244" /></a><br />  <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj22nC4MHenfTjG9URQi0w0f6ntoOJ2YZl_T3YULaoIx3d000708jIDhuE2bWs-Ff2BvZ5gsvHB1IjBUs4u5Nuyb58hirrkRNB1S82mOP1MomOSQ4pW86bD_7pmeNdMBcy5XL4QNJ1Wcg/s1600-h/pbs-22.jpg"><img alt="pbs-2" border="0" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1NaIXJyyn2ahkwDRR-YRfcldtolF1_m7d1tiwFuF9TWBRhvoz9Xx1YHNFLd5uBYJ1SH2SoSfq_xbeZvRY8SUEQsSFKwATseSgBPjlDywUOwk8qyTLdoqzP1sIvZuWnUCDU32Hfj9xmso/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="pbs-2" width="244" /></a>  <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>7. Poetry from pictures<br /></strong></span><a href="http://www.zoo-m.com/flickr-storm/">http://www.zoo-m.com/flickr-storm/</a><br /><br />What I like about this site is that you can type in a keyword and a whole lot of inspirational clips come up. Choose one as an inspiration to write a poem. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfOgAAvWBWdXyjiicLrWPYJVwLuYLKjG133RtGP-JYqa0BN6n7syJyNCyvdE9s0Pyxc27Ra4DI9BVBRJktLzJviOQOFbY4z56RVau4_UTShjMr1keKNq3Hm8MeKShkqPkJgf1HG6Zsd7Q/s1600-h/flickr-storm6.jpg"><img alt="flickr-storm" border="0" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvSS1khocZpxPXHeGwxXdYMVYUo3oEegPeRfq-ykQDzyEfMzUpu2ZWQ9zMMmKBbEAHQ7paiRJ02xOmmi4prVPwxhbv_AIrIkk4lRwzAIQap1BUSqYKZkQB6InPUAbDcUPVujBkTYYq3hY/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="flickr-storm" width="242" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>8. Poetry idea engine<br /></strong></span><a href="http://teacher.scholastic.com/writewit/poetry/flash_pie.htm">http://teacher.scholastic.com/writewit/poetry/flash_pie.htm</a><br /><br />This site takes you through four types of poetry in an engaging way. Cinquain, haiku, limerick and free verse. I find that the students love it because it teaches you about the type of poem in a fun noisy machine type of manner, and then helps you make your own.  <br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpK0H7qL8hyYGERbaJyRt9ABAx6ZoschqF-LRy_DoBM0wZ27WQCskB1uFlh5N52Yg1u3iMr5zfw5_fAw0Vn94GSO3gUBfOoJn49oi-ZVXI5U0ZQ3w6lkUtv2b4D-b2XPffDVuH0sgZXqM/s1600-h/poetry-engine2.png"><img alt="poetry engine" border="0" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPtw5AzE6o6akpkvzLv1j602Uk6gq5nZZrIdgluVlLsvyJjBTfLmA5n3Z5BHzG_qgSrzE0_tv1ND90LMFgax8R0n0NoZoHQmmjLQ7-PdXCnGBCAQLinjRUvCr0gpxLhxC9QwTie9cV46o/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="poetry engine" width="244" /></a><br />  <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpQmMxM0d2_Z6jU2Gx2IT57m-knyoOdNq-BXx5PEN3k8dVff4blgdQDhsfaUGTVOGP41U2cXDfCNRgBdHpGoikbWFFVtXOcwSBbndo6vEGTzNp6vVLBXnt-wJp0ogLaFmAMXIuV5Z-Z5s/s1600-h/poetry-flash2.jpg"><img alt="poetry flash" border="0" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDikjcGWnzPpk1ZZAmbu_L2w501abanLvSzGsr5cCOx5h6vS1ggIJhdGBjvPql1jciFf40xMg0aiGn1KUY3kFsjKpog4ZWrzK_RlTjsvfN6NFhmBrEPSLO36aO1eZCoh8dZ-NsPG3QgWc/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="poetry flash" width="244" /></a><br />  <br /><br /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>9. Tag galaxy<br /></strong></span><a href="http://taggalaxy.de/">http://taggalaxy.de/</a>  <br /><br />This is quite an unusual but nevertheless inspiring application. First you choose your topic. e.g. books. A number of words appear on the page.  Then you choose your photos. This is certainly something different that a teacher can develop.<br /><br />  <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-sEmbODXix2wEGDUs9tcwIgh0tzDPsiBeS0LsdYjAT2kwxyIX24yTBOpCkzzKvOenzPiTQVbmblUCiNvBDk50Tpv9g6HFkVYL5rvwc2_0F8a6vj_wBSpHo7W1p830dDOJT_XcspnTZQo/s1600-h/tags3.jpg"><img alt="tags" border="0" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3wtQS8jvKknn4RfyvjnWIwDwAzdzlTGGwKECAtcJx1XJIG7l-YVl6YoxCCoRU-I-i1QUSqw8YdcVRx21Y-eRQnz0wbOv1nMoHkb8OsJAs8ovcl8gMsdC6AbLJjL28w2jAMwd3I9FDwj8/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="tags" width="305" /></a>  <br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXWttSVkbGrf31Dh9tQAcLP0WrTNsSXtP3IxE86ATATVBNAMEWJFHHbQyeW-RFZNkmRvh2GiipI0eaizGAwpuPicq3gVo88_HeGkuf8jp98qBfX9jKYLkT7BbZ_EVj3gYiENo0PKVxqZo/s1600-h/tag22.jpg"><img alt="tag2" border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxdwrnhz5CK7i490J-YMpaF8s05fX1eCmVeRu6OawzYeOb1bos4H80o7Wg0-_ixcrR-LUYAvfSLwS-02Yp49TVlZRQsoqzDvAfNvBCSya7sTevlPiQxo12zvc-yZo61ZtBeVAqrvenqLE/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="tag2" width="242" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-iutlyAX9k_MMm84J-laHx5Ls7AXr3DexzAa2TOx7sHCuJLrRXynP6FbAuvResY8noripNCITIyoWSTDrzV1gVModQGgF754O-VuIs5vFfBfW_ziZDm4OVqi_aUtRS98ZBpfKky7oagE/s1600-h/books2.jpg"><img alt="books" border="0" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivuE9rs9Zg0ObYB9apbXd4IxWgMx9_0EyAZboYCN_rSh0qsC0rCz3pRhP8z9pNdkbuvvJuIgmD4rDiZeom_ImnhFBFTkoMmypN4HKKNDqHjUtkM2pREimiqsbv_3tStrkLVLIO0Jx-Lsg/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="books" width="244" /></a>  <br />  <br /><br /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>10. A poetry wiki<br /></strong></span><a href="http://thebunnies.wikispaces.com/POETRY">http://thebunnies.wikispaces.com/POETRY</a>  <br /><br />Here is a poetry wiki with an abundant supply of ideas.  <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLeXm7rLTTncvYEBotMWbyFbi9QSM1QUdbUnE2Bubi_c1GDnDk_INVSUwlXa3S0y05KwPdtbCZBkueiwkA-IUVUd3M89FIVfionRk152Y1HfBCF5rO9NY6XnUcUcxisEcg0iyEji79_Kg/s1600-h/The-bunnies.2.jpg"><img alt="The bunnies." border="0" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRL7D7IU_uZlhq4tkRtLFHvvml7plf-MHMFmq-bP54LJH2orTFkHyDshmZ8xPkN4i8Qld4F7hKB63y-p4LUzMmhupYUyZAyjIcojka0hhz-SGVH6O_-w96yyOx4XWL6MMNorr0Wd51Qe8/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="The bunnies." width="244" /></a>  </div>

Creative writing Literacy Poetry Poetry sites that will get words flowing!

Submitted by Fiona Beal One of the things I love doing with a class is writing poetry. The students come up with the most interesting ideas ...

8 Ways to Negotiate for Job Perks

1:44 PM Anonymous 0

<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><b><i><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana; font-size: medium;"></span></i></b></span><br /><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal arial, helvetica;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="tblContent"><tbody><tr id="trContent"><td align="center" class="cb_style tcContent" id="tcContent" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><div class="cbArticleWrapper" style="background-color: white; text-align: left; width: 750px;"><div class="cbArticleContentWrapper" style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 15px; margin-right: 15px; margin-top: 15px; width: 750px;"><div class="cbArticleRight" style="width: 560px;"><div class="RXart" style="padding-right: 20px;"><div class="ArticleHeadline" style="margin-top: -30px;"><div class="cbmsnArticleImage" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" src="http://emj.cbdr.com/artieimages/1g/ar5m0bx760sr64f01s1g.gif?time=3/8/2011%205:52:35%20pm" /></div><b><span id="cbArticle_lblByLine">Rachel Farrell, Special to CareerBuilder.com</span></b><br /></div><br /><div class="ArticleContent"><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">In the past couple of years, the economy has thrown job seekers for a loop. But in the midst of job loss, high unemployment rates and long-term unemployment for thousands of job seekers, there have been the lucky few who have held on to their jobs for life -- well, professional life.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">But now that the economy is improving, companies are concerned about keeping their top performers and attracting new ones. In order to retain their star talent, companies may be sweetening the pot with non-monetary benefits, according to a new Accountemps survey.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">When chief financial officers were asked about the perks they plan to offer or are already offering, 29 percent said subsidized training and education topped the list. Twenty-four percent said flexible schedules, telecommuting and mentoring programs.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"On the heels of the recession, perks are a cost-effective way employers can reward and retain staff and attract new employees," says Max Messmer, chairman of Accountemps and author of <i>Human Resources Kit For Dummies</i>. "The most popular incentives are those that aid in career development and give employees some control over their work schedules."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The problem is, many job seekers and employees don't know how to negotiate for such perks -- they're only used to bargaining for money.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"Many job seekers are tied to the notion that monetary compensation from a salary is the only factor to consider. What many fail to see is that there are many other benefits that hold 'monetary value' outside of what's directly reflected on a paycheck," says Tina Chen, vice president of operations for Employco USA, Inc. "Just because a company may not be flexible with salary negotiations doesn't mean that they are not willing to offer other extras in lieu of a higher salary. There are many 'perks' that can make up for the difference to make the workplace more attractive."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Some of these perks include but aren't limited to extra vacation time, flexible scheduling, continuing education benefits or tuition reimbursement. And sometimes, negotiating these perks can actually be better than negotiating for a higher salary, says Bill Driscoll, district president of Robert Half International.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"Because perks typically are less costly, employers may have more flexibility to offer these benefits than a higher salary. Keeping this in mind, candidates may feel more comfortable asking for more perks than they do asking for more money," Driscoll says.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">There are several reasons why employers may not be willing to pay you a higher salary, says Jean Baur, senior consultant, Lee Hecht Harrison and author of <i>Eliminated! Now What? Finding Your Way from Job-Loss Crisis to Career Resilience</i>.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"It really has to do with company structure. A hiring manager can't bring in a middle manager at a higher salary than the senior managers, so asking for a sign-on bonus or additional vacation days may be more successful," she says. "It's often a lot easier to get an extra week of vacation than it is to raise the base salary by $10,000."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Additionally, there are instances when the worker's performance or skill sets don't merit a pay increase, says Driscoll.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"Most employers want to make sure that salaries correspond to the employees' skill set and direct output versus meeting a 'demanded salary,'" adds Chen. "As more employers are becoming cognizant of hiring costs they want to make sure employees are delivering the level of work that is required and can exceed expectations. Employees have to prove that they are worth the asking price, so unless the employers feel they have seen exceptional work – chances are higher salaries will not be considered."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Here are eight tips to help you negotiate for perks in lieu of a higher salary:</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>1. Be prepared for the discussion.</b> "Research current trends related to perks in your area and industry, and understand the types the employer is most likely to offer," Driscoll says.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>2. Cover your position.</b> "If you are negotiating for more vacation time, have a plan as to how your work will be covered in your absence," Chen says. "This will alleviate the headache of your employer having to scramble to fill the gap and make the absence less visible."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>3. Present a business case.</b> "Employees must be able to show how the perk they seek will help them meet not just their personal objectives but also benefit the company," Driscoll says. "For example, by attending a seminar on a new industry software application, you can help your colleagues get up to speed on the new technology more quickly."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>4. Stay employer focused. "</b>Before you ask for an item that will be beneficial to you, ask yourself how it will benefit the employer," says Chen. If you're asking for flex time so you can drop off and pick up your kids at school and would like to work 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. instead of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m, for example, try something like "Working 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. will also allow me to take the early phone calls that come through the reception desk, which generally go into the voicemail box. I can also accept the early packages that are delivered instead of having them being left at the front door where they can easily be stolen,'" Chen says.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>5. Don't be demanding</b>. Remember you're asking for, not entitled to, more vacation or a sign-on bonus, Baur says. "Prioritize what's more important to you: is it money, flexibility, time off or health benefits -- then only ask for one or two things. This is not the time for a laundry list as that could make the employer not want to hire you. If you negotiate in a positive way and limit your requests, you won't lose the offer."<b></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>6. Prepare a back-up plan.</b> "Negotiating requires flexibility and employees should have a second option in mind in case their first choice is denied," says Driscoll. "If your employer doesn't allow you to telecommute, for instance, you may be able to work from a satellite office closer to your home."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>7. Be knowledgeable. </b>Continuing education is not only beneficial for your personal growth but also to the company, Chen says. "If you want the company to pay for a course or seminar that you would like to attend – consider adding the following: 'I am really interested in attending this workers' compensation seminar on claim management. I feel by polishing up in this area I would be able to process the claims more effectively and minimize our exposure to pay on these claims.'"</div><b>8. Remain professional.</b> "No matter the response to your request, stay positive, and always try to end the discussion on a positive note. If your request is denied, ask your manager if there are specific steps you can take to earn the perk in the future," says Driscoll. </div></div></div></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table>

8 Ways to Negotiate for Job Perks

Rachel Farrell, Special to CareerBuilder.com In the past couple of years, the economy has thrown job seekers for a loop. But in the midst of...

PALESTINE

5:02 AM Tukiyooo 0

<table id="article-table"><tbody><tr><td style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3wNz6PcER8RPuQudBMIT_GoxXahDBvKEQAKOj1wLWj7BWbuiQDspyMFXvYkMRLQN_2WkNzUe0LGM_Ha4q9SLUQxmpEqiqggjgnHAj1B3ztgtYDUxtZ8Bw4fSVdQBYCGB1dQwet4kOah7L/s1600/IsraelMapReduction1922-mandate_for_palestine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3wNz6PcER8RPuQudBMIT_GoxXahDBvKEQAKOj1wLWj7BWbuiQDspyMFXvYkMRLQN_2WkNzUe0LGM_Ha4q9SLUQxmpEqiqggjgnHAj1B3ztgtYDUxtZ8Bw4fSVdQBYCGB1dQwet4kOah7L/s400/IsraelMapReduction1922-mandate_for_palestine.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><h2 class="article-title"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></h2><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Telling The UN Six Home Truths</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></div></td>   <td align="right" rowspan="2"><a href="http://www.analyst-network.com/profile.php?user_id=65"><br /></a></td> </tr><tr>   <td class="pub-date" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Article by <b>David Singer</b>, Analyst for "International Analyst Network". </span></td><td class="pub-date"><br /></td><td class="pub-date"><br /></td><td class="pub-date"><br /></td><td class="pub-date"><br /></td><td class="pub-date"><br /></td><td class="pub-date"><br /></td><td class="pub-date"><br /></td>  </tr><tr align="justify" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">   <td colspan="2"><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Article Republished with the permission of the Author.  </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">ISRAEL’S Prime Minister - BENJAMIN NETANYAHU - has announced his intention to address the</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY in NEW YORK this week in connection with the proposed application by the PLO for recognition of a PALESTINIAN ARAB STATE along the 1949 armistice lines.<br /><br />The terms of the proposed resolution remain a closely guarded secret. There still appears to be disagreement between PALESTINIAN ARAB leaders as to its final terms.<br /><br />However notwithstanding such uncertainty Mr. NETANYAHU announced at a press conference with visiting CZECH Prime Minister PETR NEČAS, that he will at the UNITED NATIONS<br />    </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">    "<b>Speak the truth to those who want to hear it</b>"</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />There are at least six basic truths that need to be conveyed to the delegates of the 193 member states present who are charged with voting on any proposed resolution: <br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">1.    Mr. NETANYAHU needs to repeat the following statement he made to the UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY on 11 December 1984 : <br />    </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Clearly, in EASTERN and WESTERN PALESTINE, there are only two peoples, the ARABS and the JEWS. Just as clearly, there are only two states in that area, JORDAN and ISRAEL. The ARAB STATE of JORDAN, containing some three million ARABS, does not allow a single JEW to live there. It also contains 4/5 of the territory originally allocated by this body’s predecessor, the League of Nations, for the JEWISH NATIONAL Home. The other State, ISRAEL, has a population of over four million, of which one sixth is ARAB. It contains less than 1/5 of the territory originally allocated to the Jews under the Mandate…. It cannot be said, therefore, that the Arabs of PALESTINE are lacking a state of their own. The demand for a second PALESTINIAN ARAB State in WESTERN PALESTINE, and a 22ND ARAB STATE in the world, is merely the latest attempt to push ISRAEL back into the hopelessly vulnerable armistice lines of 1949.”</span></div><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br />This still remains the strategy behind the current PLO application to the UN. <br /><br />The PALESTINIAN ARABS could have had their State in more than 90% of the territory situated within the 1949 armistice lines had they accepted either of the offers made by ISRAEL in 2001 or 2008. They want 100% to deny ISRAEL the security it needs - as was  recognized by the UN in Resolution 242 <br /><br />This message needs to be repeated - especially for the 34 member States who were not members of the UN when Mr. NETANYAHU made this speech.<br /><br />2.    The view often expressed in the UN that JEWISH settlements in the WEST BANK are illegal in international law ignores the fact that close settlement by Jews on West Bank land, including State lands and waste lands not required for public purposes was to be encouraged and is legally sanctioned by the Treaty of Sevres, article 6 of the Mandate for PALESTINE and article 80 of the UN Charter.<br /><br />Denying this vested legal right by unilaterally passing a resolution that seeks to negate the exercise of that right breaches article 80 of the UN Charter and is a denial of natural justice.<br /><br />3.     Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338 are the only legally enforceable resolutions of the UNITED NATIONS binding on all parties to the JEWISH- ARAB conflict. <br /><br />These resolutions call for secure and recognized boundaries to be determined by the parties to the conflict. This can only be done in negotiations and not imposed unilaterally by any decision of either the General Assembly or the Security Council unless both Resolutions are repealed or amended.<br /><br />To do otherwise will bring the UNITED NATIONS into disrepute, cause it to lose its authority and render its future rulings and decisions without force or effect.<br /><br />4.    The 1947 UN Partition Plan called for the establishment of a JEWISH STATE and an ARAB STATE in the balance of the area of the BRITISH MANDATE still controlled by GREAT BRITAIN in 1947 - after 77% of the Mandated territory had been granted independence by GREAT BRITAIN in 1946 as an exclusively ARAB state and was renamed the HASHEMITE KINGDOM of TRANSJORDAN.<br /><br />The ARAB rejection of the UN partition proposal and the failure by the ARABS to create such a State between 1947-1967 must require the General Assembly to stipulate that recognition of any ARAB state in 2011 is conditional upon recognition of ISRAEL as the JEWISH state in the balance of the land contained in the 1947 Partition Plan.<br /><br />5.    The PLO Charter - article 2  - declares that PALESTINE within the boundaries it had during the BRITISH MANDATE is one indivisible territorial unit.<br /><br /> Until this clause is unequivocally and irrevocably deleted  from the Charter - the UN should not consider any application for recognition made by the PLO.<br /><br />6,    The MONTEVIDEO CONVENTION 1933 prevents any consideration of the current application - since the proposed state does not fulfill the requirements of the Convention setting out the conditions for a State to possess before it can make a declaration of statehood and then seek to be recognized.<br /><br /> The UN should be seeking to enforce international law not subvert it. <br /><br />The UN has learned from bitter experience in 1947 what can happen when the General Assembly proposes a solution to the JEWISH-ARAB conflict which one party accepts and  the other party rejects.<br /><br />Hopefully history will not be repeated in 2011. This will depend to a great degree on the final wording of any resolution. If it is not acceptable to both parties then violence and bloodshed is sure to follow. <br /><br />The UN really needs to decide whether international law or the law of the jungle is to prevail.<br /><br />Mr. NETANYAHU said in his press conference that the General Assembly is not "the place where Israel generally gets a reasonable hearing," but it was nonetheless important to present ISRAEL'S position. <br /><br />The real question is - will anyone be listening or have they already made up their minds?</span></td></tr></tbody></table>

PALESTINE

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Struggling...Part 2

1:00 PM Tukiyooo 0

And so Sunday, Monday and Tuesday has progressed terribly as well.   It's not because I've had the mentality of "Well, I screwed myself for  the week, might as well blow the rest of it off." No, I don't wake up  and plan to suck at WW for that day.  The problem is poor menu  planning.<br /><br /><i>(As a side note, we stopped at <a href="http://www.sheetz.com/">Sheetz</a> for breakfast on Sunday morning.  Check out how cute this Tabasco bottle is that they gave me with my Shmuffin.) </i><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn09yhoqbZUxGgy7OWi8MwaWbq-oeySDRetoIVlBcA53moSf0PbdUiBnPfItGq6Gtrto0UnB3gp0c3WGb0QHOhPwbGry0R3FAz2cwfLX5MrbotQ5gvbrGFLF08kxobL5RBh766YhZ2RM0/s1600/Tabasco.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn09yhoqbZUxGgy7OWi8MwaWbq-oeySDRetoIVlBcA53moSf0PbdUiBnPfItGq6Gtrto0UnB3gp0c3WGb0QHOhPwbGry0R3FAz2cwfLX5MrbotQ5gvbrGFLF08kxobL5RBh766YhZ2RM0/s400/Tabasco.jpg" width="328" /></a></div><br />For example, after I got to work on Tuesday I  quickly jotted down a menu for the day.  Well, I didn't abide by the  menu.  First, I failed at <a href="http://the-big-weight.blogspot.com/2011/09/beck-diet-solution-week-3.html">Beck</a> and actually gave myself a Choice and ate  fries from Chick-fil-a (because I was craving Heinz), even though I had a healthy, homemade chicken  parmesan awaiting me in my office.  Even though I ate the fries, I knew I  still had the Points+ for it.  Then, I realized on the drive home from  work that I forgot to account for that smoothie I had in the morning.   Well that smoothie actually took away the graciousness of the Points+ I  thought I had for those fries.  So, basically I consumed all my Points+  by lunchtime Tuesday and I hadn't even eaten dinner!<br /><br />I know that when I do manage to plan out my meals, I'm completely successful on the Plan.  When I don't plan those meals, I often overeat either accidentally or on purpose and hence don't lose any weight or gain weight.  It is that simple.  Yet, it's not that simple.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://imagineannie.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/menu-planning-5-8.jpg?w=480&h=466" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="310" src="http://imagineannie.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/menu-planning-5-8.jpg?w=480&h=466" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://imagineannie.wordpress.com/2009/05/08/menu-planning-the-end-of-a-suck-ulent-week/">Source</a>.</td></tr></tbody></table>Menu planning takes time.  Not only that, but I kind of find it to be a pain.  In the past, I've sat down to menu plan on a weekend for the upcoming week and it ends up taking me several hours to do it.  I have to pull a lot of the food out of my pantry to calculate the Points+ or even just so I can see what I have in stock, make grocery lists for what I need to make a complete meal, and then go get that food.  By the time it's all said and done I've spent a Saturday just meal planning and grocery shopping.  And to do that every single week? I don't see it happening.<br /><br />I've also tried meal planning one day at a time.  However, I don't like to grocery shop through the week, so if I meal plan on such short notice, I can see it leaving me in a bind in that I may not have all the ingredients for a meal on hand.<br /> <br /> Excuses. Excuses.<br /><br />If you construct a meal plan, what is your strategy?  Does anyone know of any meal plan/menu builders online that you find very useful?  Or do you have a binder or some type of notebook that is even better?  Please share your meal planning tips!!

Weight Loss Challenges Weight Watchers Struggling...Part 2

And so Sunday, Monday and Tuesday has progressed terribly as well. It's not because I've had the mentality of "Well, I screwe...

10 Story Starter sites to get your students writing

4:28 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><em>Submitted by Fiona Beal</em><br /><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Have you ever wondered how to get the reluctant writers in your class enthusiastic about writing? Nowadays with all the wonderful free applications available on the web a teacher doesn’t have to stress about this any more. (Please note that there is a link to a follow up post with more story starter sites under point 11 below.)<br /><br /><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>1. Wallwisher</strong></span><br /><br />This is an idea I tried last year. Open a wallwisher page (<a href="http://wallwisher.com/">http://wallwisher.com</a>)  and ask the class to think of a good start to story. There are always those students who rise to the occasion and add their bit. Of course there are those who just sit and think during the whole exercise. Then, when everyone has added their ideas, let everyone choose one of the ideas and start writing!  This usually works well.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCmAaQNlEA50CfVSW6LdrL5wEcznJWMlbswoD7Y0rl7UUqdx9_KgpjsZeMZk_lHdL7SwrFt0tDDaBZ7_cU23fpnIfF4d-skpmsyq1wlgbCeHpnK49OS37WtVLxlJuJa8Fk_GBs2kabqnA/s1600-h/wallwisher%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="wallwisher" border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjICbi7nzZci49LYXfOBmrwP9WimyKLNMsgC9K_BJQrzbMqQxG-LA_b05VxlAkpY1UgghoUUvbcWfWI_CVfeAS-0kqq1Ijf91HtL617m1jL6dQeqohcF9D3wRmw2qEk8sZjtAs2lUaW1oE/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="wallwisher" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>2. The Story Starter Junior</strong></span> (<a href="http://www.thestorystarter.com/jr.htm" title="http://www.thestorystarter.com/jr.htm">http://www.thestorystarter.com/jr.htm</a>)<br /><br />This site provides 729 story starters for kids and won an award in 2008. Every time you click on the story starter button a new idea appears. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHaa5ch_UTO38nl1XNzIhI8JGCW9cwLyq3eEZXP2PB1DXh7fHLUOc1OjI4tjE9SF4LIIPfFxHoghHIOM6ifStTIe2Rgk2Lx7qqtvPF89kvnbs6BX9FQAUkg9Z2a454x2zdnPryi0s_M3E/s1600-h/storyStarterJr%25255B2%25255D.png"><img alt="storyStarterJr" border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizT4Yoo69dzK5worrCDpTCKU0CwvD2VJ3sDuSQS6620l9SH9XvAOd3Kxzx0Gur6KA53PHedPuRGPzUZvN4lIzWcWXmvZnhDsRby3nCBAk6uTdkdTFKN9uvKXk18aU2BIfB4BZOBrltpIw/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="storyStarterJr" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>3. The Story Starter</strong></span> (<a href="http://www.thestorystarter.com/" title="http://www.thestorystarter.com/">http://www.thestorystarter.com/</a>)<br /><br />Here is it’s companion site which is for older students and adults. This one has over a milllion story starters. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZqGn-zIU6YsonX1lOE5fjmw4re3aD-Hsb6mDTms1KA1gPQtJVyy9jra2egB2-A_BJf15Rb39Zzsgv0l_MZ7Fo41M_DcP2u_YPA16WtkisNGjqv33kctoXRcMvOy6vbi672bP93LPXuG4/s1600-h/st-st2%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="st-st2" border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi6yXXl3mI2AMltWoFOJwK0M2nGUZJxhbZeGF7ADuRh02M1AsOGjAZea3HxkkTwqcGnDBNrGcXo9zoUnq18Wzp90coIIC-42_Jk5h19SivsWU6920I3PdZqnw87a3YTXPp9n2hEu7EBQI/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="st-st2" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>4. Creative Writing prompts</strong></span> (<a href="http://www.creativewritingprompts.com/" title="http://www.creativewritingprompts.com/">http://www.creativewritingprompts.com/</a>)<br /><br />This is another site that has won an award. All you do is point to one of the 346 numbers and a box appears with a prompt. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-4YU5UHgE6URru7dFp8U96vuYkQ_RDPAzt6eY1bA5vdqskDzv5fhPGyOokNJQ2xkl7mZvhjfhyphenhyphenVeicgovPwJImlbYXYRuuuabeOtse0us4lTKA0HvtVQlBDTVsudM2aCVN3pHyfytDbA/s1600-h/cr-wr-prompts%25255B2%25255D.png"><img alt="cr-wr-prompts" border="0" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1j2-j0wAYMeG1qI6OnmZFxFdnQ3tjevLfyWcFGuO8OpeHx19KQsO0r3u_RJiswf13mUK5jmYl9XdsAmYi0oV8NgQvlW4tAwDpnmOHinQNTY4MCXI5nNX1RejqCT2hs4M-0znlcYfDcQY/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="cr-wr-prompts" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>5. The Storyboard Generator</strong></span> (<a href="http://generator.acmi.net.au/storyboard/interactive" title="http://generator.acmi.net.au/storyboard/interactive">http://generator.acmi.net.au/storyboard/interactive</a>)<br /><br />This site allows you to generate a play script. You choose your avator and a script idea, and then…who knows! All sorts of possibilities emerge. Try it and see.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLN79NmtIHVmMCR8Fizoh7fYQJnrhw89VWzt9Y3WRO5ZodTknlrR8DveBUv15lB2suDB2INa8Q4DUZTQNGXMcoa2LXSEeA2a7H_4b2qTbWveA7SXVvF-WKkeY-fom3bcLSPmjKfUx-Rac/s1600-h/storyboard%252520generator%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="storyboard generator" border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhckR1cXyIHCkoqUWbfcn3yglhfWjb14LrUYLsghdvdLaZJd-0NKMkHqMdK7572xs5BikcMx34xTgM25tsIk-3VKVjL5a3ovJYUSG4IaDC-H6SsI3zc1wSaDv3dzurJC7oHPnuCMb-92sw/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="storyboard generator" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>6.  Fun Fairytale generator</strong></span>  (<a href="http://www.sistersgrimm.com/newsite/game.html" title="http://www.sistersgrimm.com/newsite/game.html">http://www.sistersgrimm.com/newsite/game.html</a>)<br /><br />This is a fun fairy-tale generator site that will capture the imagine of the daring younger learners. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUf6rMCqzvy51EX-W-ws2BCu1ASS_2nZ3_HEWt_8r23sl9wVuc2XZde6TeZ0rFOn-kOHGMHa0K8pJTnq7_-tJ_m916bSwMPO9TAjelAVtAgZ6tUDwOYHQx5h7VJdXtYNDbf0VO96HMZsk/s1600-h/Fairytale%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Fairytale" border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Zuv7Yon7OQaedsowmJP-KDuv-JBD5NL-0h8osQrua21KmOgef1NE2us_QUx5L4SSsXHcevjbNNydMS8jzEKQkw1AB_S6-gV7At_f3Pk98jgnmr8dtl0QIR7I0VCS56yKDA6f3ZhaErM/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Fairytale" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>7. A character generator</strong></span> (<a href="http://bit.ly/dnHLt" title="http://bit.ly/dnHLt">http://bit.ly/dnHLt</a>)<br /><br />This site supports Key Stage 1. You choose the type of clothes, hair and skin colour that you want your character to have.  Then you type on the notepad a sentence about your character. You can then click on the Print button at the top of the screen and your character and the sentence will be printed. The idea is to show it to the teacher and talk about who you have created. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYP3orfJKWJ4iw2Cn7bSdu-XE0CAYpMH0gmTJc89wjPnVuyXKpv2wUSztEsYvZ_2XJ2tesPfWPakT8F9hyphenhyphenmA37uL5UcjsBM7l0kkCE3IfYipWMTIwktGTVhiStYfOwGUu0iFOWh0Ykqig/s1600-h/characters%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="characters" border="0" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRL6HyMm1ZTKcVIm2LFxd5vAGZm1szG8qgV0-wHTMG7Cs-8AYAsOGIVMACi9z2iP2PEZn2Qq0M2PLRAqyLP0_CLIVgliiAkTpcgAXS4nCRfyrO1acVtyFKgKu7cK4lXgafL8HueRdmPFY/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="characters" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>8. Storyplant from the BBC</strong></span><br /><br />This will really appeal to the younger learner. A story guide takes one on a fascinating journey and helps the student to develop their story. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPkYRCg9IDrAc4fRooVcOeXKUxEHIodOrQaix7vLJbdgabCY9vpDF1XJ7zCgeqDjU1PamjIEItD3E9sr4v90Ccgx6VB8Lu8k5euEQJcmoWN9SbZIaS6ZZm7Am4xE56FxsstJFPVsa5-fg/s1600-h/storyplant%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="storyplant" border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3FQdHInSMPlwmhtl4bBmVd5XiNDNIm7Elp3YM4Dutgba-oRVo6s6DeVGmGQx6MrQKc0nKmROWAju6NUUyLYX-4bF-fDJ-07jR8T3twNSloFzUXdl9prWz-xCbAauApya5HP6ax44IYGY/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="storyplant" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8_yg7-ZBP_tnI07owocLS5wF8FuRa6OmWuvuq7wKh9d59iWRu7Crk9nTxg3iOLUOlat2dark8UYPBBBov45as2rhXPFBw6tehW6A-b6ZfDMuUbiHmB9zkFqWiywH_0BperO4GYn3JCKU/s1600-h/storyplant2%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="storyplant2" border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbc2C8KyfeMcUj-BwheiMmYWyZnAmZMOlaeq5iALh6E98n-Pw-VsalXJWqgZvIrQ5zYGIJnP7FvwRy1yzg14SSTeajzGC46Y97zinrJipqZBCH4T1Ug3qE-NaDYpH3E08BpkTbg31ZlAY/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="storyplant2" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">9.  Boomwriters</span></strong> (<a href="http://www.boomwriter.com/home/Schools">http://www.boomwriter.com/home/Schools</a>)<br /><br />This seems to be a site that you join – free to schools – and it takes you on a writing journey. It could be worth investigating!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2mMLS0SBCkb0gnymdMuN-iIrzrgvMywKG00VmNP7HTAq0cXl2Q8dfutUhLlnL1PdUFlaAi1IEhe3G_mS0xa1nLyUTBGSHDUskFkp0mgCLGC-2g6fjGqtxxEhmGxjGBbWZVcefdZZeeYM/s1600-h/bbomwriters%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="bbomwriters" border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx0oTfLVCRvIEO1HVKd2AMUyf_m2f2TgVd0Jd7_HZTX7XbcBrfwC3KllyM8O8afWHmjX8Pje8St4ebsSuwgkC0Z-Zg-me2bp455haJfHXA9zmCJbgS-0kIQI3tspaKw0i-P90dKdLbg3Q/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="bbomwriters" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>10. Inspiring ideas</strong></span> (<a href="http://www.ideastoinspire.co.uk/inspiringwriting.htm">http://www.ideastoinspire.co.uk/inspiringwriting.htm</a>)<br /><br />Just to finish off this looks worth exploring – 34 more ideas in a Google doc. <br />Click on the picture to be taken to the actual Google doc so that you can view all 34 ideas.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/present/view?id=ddf8kn4m_59zqzbv9gs&pli=1"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP1n1dJ1YCidI732gVL6MdiAyjBsENDnHMYqpUQYkCodEIpO-6fKVLWoHwFGJqcgrutM5T77IoafQnX6CGq-ZI-1omt-Y8M4h2Wnn2yJp5P5l9QL46ZFjtL2VItWTGdG3VScOOZKLTAn4/s320/inspire.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>11. Even more..</b></span>.<br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This post is continued with another group of story starter sites. Visit <a href="http://e-blogschool.blogspot.com/2013/01/more-story-starter-sites-to-inspire.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">More story starter sites to inspire your students to write</span></a></span><br />  </div></div>

Creative writing 10 Story Starter sites to get your students writing

Submitted by Fiona Beal Have you ever wondered how to get the reluctant writers in your class enthusiastic about writing? Nowadays with all ...

What about joining up with a project on Children’s Rights?

3:01 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />We have all heard of the UNICEF Children's Rights. This is such a topical subject and it is worth getting your class to learn more about children's rights around the world. This is one of the IEARN projects that Omashani Naidoo, the Operations Manager at SchoolNet South Africa has brought to my attention.  <br />Omashani says, "My friend Annie Flore is a coordinator of this project. This would really be a wonderful opportunity for SA learners to give their point of view and let other countries learn first-hand about our vast experiences in SA." <br /><ul><li><strong>Facilitator(s):</strong> <a href="http://media.iearn.org/user/12041">annie_flore_vergne_morgand</a><br /></li><li><strong>Country:</strong> France<br /></li><li><strong>Languages:</strong> English<br /></li><li><strong>Student Age Level:</strong> 12-14, 15-18<br /></li><li><strong>Dates:</strong> September 2011 to April 2012<br /></li><li><strong>Summary:</strong> Students will help to identify what they believe are the key rights of children while also exploring the rights defined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child<strong>. </strong></li>Here is a picture of the project details. Click on the picture to be taken to its location. </ul><div align="center"><a href="http://media.iearn.org/projects/childrens-rights"><img alt="project - children's rights" border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3lwv5wo1c0k_CBYyN9mi3T1s59_-j41PsxPj6mXWz9Rx6qt0V0CM0WHkUkVhMHC3Taq2JeI8OvOGa5KE5K9Dri2aSKvivywxLgO8m4prhHrMBxB43zECgHeJ4lY1qNcVHR-2LZX0Dpm8/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="project - children's rights" width="320" /></a></div></div>

Collaboration Project-based learning What about joining up with a project on Children’s Rights?

We have all heard of the UNICEF Children's Rights. This is such a topical subject and it is worth getting your class to learn more about...

16 job search errors you're probably making

1:43 PM Anonymous 0

<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><b><i><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana; font-size: medium;"></span></i></b></span><br /><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal arial, helvetica;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="tblContent"><tbody><tr id="trContent"><td align="center" class="cb_style tcContent" id="tcContent" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><div class="cbArticleWrapper" style="background-color: white; text-align: left; width: 750px;"><div class="cbArticleContentWrapper" style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 15px; margin-right: 15px; margin-top: 15px; width: 750px;"><div class="cbArticleRight" style="width: 560px;"><div class="RXart" style="padding-right: 20px;"><div class="ArticleHeadline" style="margin-top: -30px;"><div class="hdr_org_bld" style="color: #ff6600; font: normal normal bold 18px/normal arial, helvetica;"><h1 id="articleHeadline" style="color: #ff7700; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br /></h1></div><b><span id="cbArticle_lblByLine">Rachel Farrell, special to CareerBuilder.com</span></b><br /></div><br /><div class="ArticleContent"><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Over the years, hiring managers have born witness to every hiring, interviewing, résumé, cover letter and negotiation mistake there is.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">You know what these blunders are. We've told you several times. Yet you (and hundreds of other job seekers) continue to make common job search mistakes.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">From those who see your mistakes over and over, here are 16 common job search mistakes to avoid -- and some of them may surprise you.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>1. You don't keep your options open</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"Candidates tend to think that if they interview for a job they will get an offer, so they do not apply and interview for multiple positions," says Joanie Spain, director of public relations and career services, School of Advertising Art, a graphic design college.<i> </i>"They wait until one plays out completely, putting their job search on hold until knowing for sure they didn't get the offer."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"By having many more irons in the fire, you diversify the risk and disappointment that is inevitable when any single opportunity disappears," adds Roy Cohen, author of "The Wall Street Professional's Survival Guide: Success Secrets of a Career Coach."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"You also present yourself as a more passionate and energetic candidate. You're in the 'zone' -- a point where you're in the flow of information and ideas -- and that makes you more valuable."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>2. You turn up your nose at job descriptions</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"Entry-level candidates are reluctant to apply for a position unless the job sounds like their 'dream job' or they have all qualifications listed," Spain says. "Rather than going on an interview to get more information, they base decisions about applying on the job description alone. They fail to see that all interview experience is good experience, or that, until there is an offer on the table, there is no decision to make."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>3. You haven't perfected the thank-you note</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"Don't be too verbose with a thank-you note after an interview. Sending out a version of "War and Peace" can come across as desperate and needy for a job. However, sending a one or two sentence thank-you note comes across as flippant, not well thought-out and potentially shows indifference regarding the job to the employer," says Mike Barefoot, senior account manager at Red Zone Resources, a recruitment firm. "We encourage candidates to keep them to four to eight sentences."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>4. You don't check your references</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"Always give out references that you've pre-screened. We sometimes see candidates give out references that were never checked with and the references feedback isn't always kind," Barefoot says. "Also, make sure they're predominantly managers. An occasional colleague is okay, but contemporaries and friends really don't carry that much weight in helping you land a position."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>5. You've got poor business acumen</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"Managers are becoming more savvy and are taking candidates out to lunch for interviews. They want to see how you treat a restaurant staff and see the 'real' you. If you're rude to them or don't seem appreciative for their hard work to make your meal pleasurable, managers wonder how you'll treat contemporaries you work with," Barefoot says.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>6. You have a messy briefcase</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"A messy briefcase can imply the person is unorganized, messy and unprepared, and that their work will be less than optimal," says Ronald Kaufman, author of "Anatomy of Success." "Someone who is neat, clean, organized and prepared in all areas conveys they're serious about getting a job and working."<b><br />7. You discount temporary positions</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"Many employers coming out of a recession want to hire on a temporary or temp- to perm- basis. We have already seen several contractors be offered permanent positions after they have proven themselves," says Jeffrey Weinstock, Esq. president, Rhodes & Weinstock, a recruiting firm. "Not only will the temporary position pay some bills, think of it as an audition for a potential perm position, or at least a way to get a good reference for another position."<br /><b>8. You have a bad attitude</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"Poor attitudes come through in telephone calls and in interviews. If you are not positive, why would a potential employer want to hire you?" asks Weinstock. "It may take some time, but by being positive, by doing all the right things, by seeing each position as an opportunity, it will happen."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>9. You include too much work history</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"Many job seekers over 40 think that they have to take their work history back to their first job out of college," says Cheryl E. Palmer, career coach and résumé writer. " All that is needed is the last 10-15 years of your work history."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>10. You use your work email address on your résumé</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"Some people do not regularly check their personal email, so they use their employers' email instead," Palmer says. "This sends a negative message to potential employers that the job seekers will not hesitate to use their equipment for personal use."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>11. You take "no" as a final answer</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"No" usually only means "no" for that position, says Bruce Hurwitz, president and CEO, Hurwitz Strategic Staffing, LTD.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"If you are rejected for a job you should send a thank-you note, thank the employer for the opportunity, and wish them well. No one does that. When the next opening comes around, he'll remember you," says Hurwitz.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>12. You lack tact</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"Be determined without being pushy. Calling or emailing to ask about the status of your résumé or interview can be a double-edged sword," says Rod Hughes, director of communications, Oxford Communications. "A tactful follow up can place you top of mind with the hiring manager, while incessant calling or emailing can push your résumé right off the table."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>13. You don't search for yourself on the Internet</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"Your would-be employer is probably going to look you up online, so you should know what is out there," says Amanda O'Brien, vice president of marketing, Hall Web Services. "Clean up what you can, check your privacy settings on social networks and if it is something you can't get down off the internet, you may want to consider talking to the company about it."  <b><br />14. You have a 'death by bullets' résumé</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"Bullets are great but they need context. Keep them to one line, focused on a result and include a figure like a fact, percentage or number," says Adriana Llames, author of "Career Sudoku: 9 Ways to Win the Job Search Game." "Or, put the information in a short summary of the position."<b><br />15. You've got a scattered strategy</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"Looking for a job in any industry and with two or three résumés is going to get the same result as the strategy: scattered," Llames says. "Job seekers with a clearly defined, focused and organized strategic approach to their job search end up with clear results -- and a new job."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>16. You think it's about you</b></div>It is not about you and your need for a job -- it is about the prospective employer and their need to run a successful business and make money, says Lori B. Rassas, employment attorney and author of "Employment Law: A Guide to Hiring, Managing and Firing for Employers and Employees."<br />"Many applicants mistakenly believe they will be an appealing candidate if they explain they will accept any type of job offer at any because they have been laid off, unemployed for an extended period of time, have children in college, or are having difficulty making the mortgage payments," she says. "Even if all of those circumstances are true, candidates need to craft a different message, focusing on how they can benefit the employer by saving them money, streamlining processes, creating additional sources of revenue and bringing overall value to the company."<br /><i>Rachel Farrell researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues for CareerBuilder. Follow @Careerbuilder on Twitter.</i> </div></div></div></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table>

16 job search errors you're probably making

Rachel Farrell, special to CareerBuilder.com Over the years, hiring managers have born witness to every hiring, interviewing, résumé, cover ...

Struggling... Part 1

1:00 PM Tukiyooo 0

After I reached my <a href="http://the-big-weight.blogspot.com/2011/09/my-first-10-pound-goal-has-been-met.html">first 10 lbs goal</a>, I felt unstoppable.  Finally, FINALLY, I was making progress past 255.<br /><br />Then the following week <a href="http://the-big-weight.blogspot.com/2011/09/welcome-to-oa-meeting.html">I bombed with a lot of cookies and beer</a>, and the scale showed that failure very precisely the following Friday.<br /><br />Then I became extremely discouraged, and even though I wanted badly to come back strong from that week (and granted, my "week" isn't over yet until this Friday), I have yet to do that.<br /><br />Here is how my week has progressed so far:<br /><br /><b>Day 1:</b><br />Friday I traveled 2 hours to Joel's grandparents where I was to "enjoy" a home-cooked meal.  I dreaded this meal because I knew it was going to be his grandmother's famous mac 'n cheese.  I wanted to flat out say "No, I'll eat at home" so that I could ensure I started the weekend off right.  But in the past that has hurt his feelings by me not partaking in his family's meals, which has been due to me being on WW and the lack of food are both Points+ friendly and I actually like.  So, I tried to skimp on eating all day to save up for this meal.  My strategy would be to load up on the vegetables and have only a tiny amount of her famous dish, because afterall, I do not know the exact Points+ value and would have to estimate.<br /><br />Turns out the "meal" only consisted of the mac 'n cheese - nothing else.  Of course, I was aching for dinner by the time we ate it (close to 7:30 PM and I hadn't eaten since noon).   I had a lot of the mac 'n cheese people.. probably several cups worth.<br /><br />Great.  Good job Hilary.  Way to start that weekend off on the right foot!  So I told myself, "It's fine Hilary.  The carbs will do a body good come tomorrow [Saturday] for the <a href="http://the-big-weight.blogspot.com/2011/09/first-annual-st-marys-county.html">septathalon</a>."  Ok fine.  Accept it and move on.<br /><br /><b>Day 2</b><br />Saturday we woke up and I had breakfast at the hotel: about a cup of corn flakes with skim milk and some seasoned potatoes.  I also had a fat free French vanilla cappuccino (from <a href="http://www.sheetz.com/">Sheetz</a> - yay!).  Not a <i>terrible </i>start to the day.<br /><br />I made it all the way through the 11 miles on the bike not feeling the least bit hungry.  But as we were driving back to the starting line for the run, I realized that it was well after noon and I should eat before doing what was supposed to be 6 miles.  So I had a <a href="http://www.larabar.com/products/chocolate-chip-cookie-dough">cookie dough Larabar</a>. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAKsVDiG9sMr66RfwdmlIvTq15_yHCASCGsDf1JPBVdNbzoy2v0f0GTesvlws3fbJog-Kvxakxp65_gwhzrGSXYi7MnUEcKKUkhRDpjwjtQwBG-rSgecs-fdz1nJtyQHLBGZ6SOTqCdJM/s1600/larabar.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="85" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAKsVDiG9sMr66RfwdmlIvTq15_yHCASCGsDf1JPBVdNbzoy2v0f0GTesvlws3fbJog-Kvxakxp65_gwhzrGSXYi7MnUEcKKUkhRDpjwjtQwBG-rSgecs-fdz1nJtyQHLBGZ6SOTqCdJM/s200/larabar.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />I did the 4 mile run/walk and returned extremely hungry.  I immediately ate a banana which didn't sit quite well with me.  So then I had another Larabar - it was either that or a muffin.  Turns out those Larabar's are very high in Points+: a whopping 6 Points+ for one!  So right then and there I had 12 Points+ invested, not to mention all that I ate for breakfast.  Still, in hindsight, it was not enough that I had screwed myself for the day, but that's exactly what I thought at the time.<br /><br />And so when we went to the post-race bbq, I was so hungry I was actually nauseous and I went to TOWN when we got there.  I ate a bunch of <a href="http://www.beanaturalchips.com/">bean chips</a>, several carrots with hummus, too many slices of gouda and cheddar cheese, a hamburger (with cheese), and a pumpkin cupcake.<br /><br />Great. Good job Hilary.  Way to undo all of that physical activity from today.

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